Celebrate Valentine's Day with tasty takeout and the right rosé

Moet & Chandon Brust Imperial Rose Champagne

Thursday is Valentine’s Day and if you are planning on going out for dinner and don’t yet have restaurant reservations, it may be too late. Take heart — there is always takeout, and for that, there is still time to get things organized.

A simple dish or two and some dessert should do the trick; hit the likes of Vij’s Rangoli, Provence Marinaside, Urban Fare, Whole Foods, or your favourite local takeout eatery.

After that’s done simply add wine and, voila, you have the makings of an interesting night.

Once the decision to stay home has been made, think about spending 75 per cent of what you would normally spend on wine in a restaurant and that will probably allow you to double your normal retail purchase price and still save money. You have to love the non-transparent world of wine pricing in British Columbia . . . but I digress.

This week, we stick to the pink theme and stay in line with the rush to rosé. As consumers go, so go retailers, and it would appear in B.C. wine stores, both public and private, proprietors have finally deciphered the rosé equation. It needs to be fresh, and sales need to be timely, as in Christmas, Valentine’s, and the patio season from May to September. As it turns out the colour, and the taste, of rosé ties in nicely with the Valentine’s theme. And just in case anyone asks, the colour pink happens a couple of ways. The simple method is to add red wine to white wine until the sought after shade of pink/red is achieved. The hues can vary from Coho salmon pink to Sockeye red.

The other, more complex method, is to put the skins of black grapes in contact with their juice after pressing to help leach out the colour. You can then bleed off the juice (saignée) or press of the skins. Both techniques should result in a spectrum of pink-coloured juice.

Let us begin with the ultimate rosé, Champagne rosé. My pick is Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Rosé, a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. Its beautiful pale cherry hues are only outdone by its small, fine continuous bead of bubbles. The nose is a fragrant mix of floral, cherry, green apple and citrus aromas. On the plate, the entry is round and rich in structure with fine acidity and a moderate dose of sugar. Redcurrant, leafy strawberry, nutty, mineral, apple skin flavours bring it all back into perspective. Pour all night for best results.

If your budget isn’t quite so flush you can do just as well sipping the Sergio Mionetto MO Vino Spumante Rose from Veneto, Italy. MO Sergio Rosé is made from a blend of raboso and lagrein grapes. Bright pink and only 11-per-cent alcohol, this is pure fun to sip and it looks great too. On the palate, it’s a refreshing mix of floral citrus, grapefruit and cherries. Whole roasted chicken would be a great fit but any appetizers would be equally well received.

Similar to the last edition, La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 2006 is an attractive food-style rosé with its pale cran/cherry colour and open floral, mineral, citrus, raspberry fruit nose. The entry is dry, but not too dry, with crisp earthy, mineral, floral, raspberry fruit and a touch of sour cherry. Its fine balance, crisp acidity and wonderful freshness are all preserved by its easy-opening screwcap closure. The perfect picnic/luncheon/chicken salad wine. Good value too. Made with grenache, shiraz, mourvèdre and cinsault.

Still in France, I’m a fan of the, grenache noir, cinsault, clairette, syrah and grenache blanc Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine 2006. Look for big bright, citrus, fruit nose with candied red fruits with bits of mineral and floral notes. The entry is rich and slightly heavier than what you might expect form the average rose — it is Tavel. In the mouth more cherry, earthy, mineral, fruit with flecks of ripe, red apple. Well balanced with a touch of almond and candied apple in the finish.

My favourite Spanish rosé is the Torres De Casta Rosé 2006 from the Catalunya. This fun pink is a masterful blend of garnacha tinta and cariñena. The nose is clean and fresh, bursting with black raspberry and cherry scents. On the palate, it is agreeably round and crisp with the perfect touch of sweetness. Floral raspberry fruit flavours hold your interest throughout.

Save for the pink-coloured rose petals on this bottle’s label the Bottega Petalo Il Vino dell' Amore Moscato is not a rosé. It is, however, a delicious off-dry sparkling dessert-style wine. Look for clean, spicy, floral, peach tones on the nose with plenty of spritz. The style is sweet but delicate with good acidity. Fresh orange, peach, green apple and mineral flavours. A perfect way to end the meal.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.